New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-09
THE UNION Pacific INQUIRY.
A RAILROADS. EXPENSES AT WASHINGTON.

TESTIMONY GIVEN by Ex-JUDGE AsHER-ExpLANA-
TIoN or CERTAIN BILLS OF LEGISLATIVE
ATTORNEYS.
KANSAS CITY, July s-Thc Pacific Railway inVes-
tlgatIng Committee to-day examined at great ieneth
Judge j. p Usher. the attorney Of the Kansas Pacnc
Railway now one Of tho attorneys Of tho Union facnc'
and the man who drew up the mortgage consolidating
the Union Pacific and Kansas Pacific. The main fea-
ture of the examination related to the consolidation
and to certain expenditures for socalled legal eA-
pcnses prior TO consolidation.
Commissioner Anderson asked the witness qnes-
lions with regard to the certihcation Of stock of the
Leavenworth, Pawnee ami Western Company which
General Stone had testified before this commission
had been distributed in large quantities to persons
supposed 20 have influence with members OF CON
gross. Judge Usher denied that tho certiheaos
attributed to him on General Stones memoranda nan
ever been delivered to him. He characterized INC
certificates as "spufious" AMI without vaue anu
declared that ho had not learned Of their existence
until after tho passage OF the act OF July j. lss..
shortly after that date he learned Of the memorandum
made by General Stone. but denied that he had any
personal knowledge whatever OF any attempt TO niu-
ence the votes OF members Of Congress ,
The witness examined with reference 10 me
terms OF the consolidated mortgage which provided
for retiring all the outstanding securities OF the Kan
sas Pacific except Its first mortgage tho CoSernhohe
mortgage and It's stock The scheme OF ,he
scuritos at rates specified In the mortgage. The
trustees were Jay Gould and Russell sage pccu-
special provision by which the securities owned by
Jay Gould and Russell Sage were exempted from the
commutat rates and were entitled 10 bo retired AZ
a specified sum--the amount being 81 900 In bonds
The amount In bonds to which their securities would
have been entitled the commuaion rates provided
for other holders only g. 100000
Governor Patison examined the witnesses with regard
TO a number OF items found 10 thebooks OF the Kansas
c5penses" The Governor having called on
Mr. Uusher 20 produce the vouchers Tor
the respective items. he took them up In detail
The principal OF $500 paid To William L.
1874 I'm astistinR the
rate bill passed by Congress; an Item OF $1,000 Tor ~
'r,nrlnary expenses" ncfrcd NJ opesa by attof-
ney named Dennis on behalf of the Kansas
r,eao 1cSn sSSsi.on an e% Su SIS Pas Pas
Horace white; $1,000 paid X. VI. Shoemaker. ana
two items aggregatlng Sl1 900 paid 10 T. lngersoll.
OF Washington. d. Call FOR assisting In the passage ~
bills As those items Judge Usher said he had never
had ANYTHING do with "tha sort OF thing The Den
mis- 80 900 item had doubt. been expended In entor-
tanning members OF the Legislature at Topeka 1herc
very hungry and thirsty men at Topeka about
that tnc-l5O Of them. Laughter
Governor Pattison asked wcther the witness regarded
the bill OF william f. chandler as for legal expenses
lie replied that :" he did not consider II law business
at all
When asked what sort OF business he considered IL. he
said he would call "soliciting business IL consisted
of preparng bills and planning to members OF con
grce the for the bills becoming law and solicit
John B Henderson. he said, was for legal argn-
n,an,s deItvereJ in land controversy. The
bin" biIl OF Horace White, Sir. Usher was sur
prsed 10 sec IL was for preparing aud delivering
speech before committee OF Congress on the Po hs,o
blu, but Mr. Usher had always supposed uniii TINS
voucher show n him. that Horace White had been
'.younteor" In the service which he rendered The
other bills indicated he knew nothing OF. The T.. NJ
although his bill for aiding legislation was charged to
legal expenses